Class Note 1991
Hello, classmates! For my first column I will attempt to recap our entire 25th reunion in the allotted 600 words.
A steady stream of ’91s checked into the class tent during the weekend, including Sandy Kopanon and Walter Palmer ’90 and their beautiful, tall children; Chris Ramsey, a physician in Knoxville, Tennessee, who shall hereby be known as the “Silver Fox”; and our cover-worthy Jake Tapper and his family. Everyone loved their 1991 swag: canvas bags and cool puffy vests!
Thursday’s BBQ dinner party drew a huge crowd of friendly faces. Hutch Stone, who lives in Keene, New Hampshire, and John Ross, who lives in Rowley, Massachusetts, sat at a long table with friends and family. John may have one of the “eldest” ’91 children, a 25-year-old! Mike Kidd shared news that he’s living in California and recently began coaching lacrosse full time. Others in attendance included Eric Peterson, George Dunston, Austin Keith Willacy (who was about to start a New England music tour), Mike Swanson (living in California and raising a fantastic daughter) and Steve Fried (who lives in Florida and attended reunion with his wife, Jill, and two daughters).
At Friday’s lunch at the Bema I bumped into Rich Winter, Rich Joyce, Kyle Hartley and some other members of the Beta posse. Winter is living and working in N.Y.C.; Hartley lives in Greenwich, Connecticut; and Joyce lives in Darien, Connecticut. All looked fit and happy.
On Friday afternoon our intrepid class agents sipped champagne and presented a “big check”—literally and figuratively—to President Hanlon. Head agents Dave Cogar and Robin Bryson Reynolds were there with about 25 other fundraisers, including Stephanie Rouzee Pendleton, Pete Levangie and Andre Sole, who trekked all the way from Australia for reunion. In total 555 donors raised $8.14 million, breaking the previous 25th reunion record, big-time!
Also on Friday Tracy Walsh Kavanaugh organized a Casque & Gauntlet reunion. Attendees included Rick Gomez, Eddie Gilmartin, Carrie Heinonan (who is director and chief executive officer of the Museum of Northern Arizona) and Megan Brimijoin Vaules. Megan is an obstetrician/gynecologist in Rochester, New York, where she still enjoys singing with her husband, Will Vaules ’89. Her son, Alec ’20, was at reunion too!
Friday’s dinner at the river was another highlight. Many Sigma Deltas were on hand, including Caitlin Staunton Appelton, Julie Grace Burke, Marjorie Culver, Doris Lee, Whitney Gates and Beth Donovan Morin. I caught up with Mike O’Flynn; Jack Cabaness; Oregonians Liz Appel Whitworth and Joe Whitworth, who is president of the Freshwater Trust; and Brooke Spencer, who lives in Colorado and is a nationally recognized interventional radiologist specializing in minimally invasive procedures.
At Saturday’s lunch I connected with Dave Murphy, a new California resident who is the founder and executive director of Food Democracy Now! a grassroots movement dedicated to reforming policies relating to food, agriculture and the environment. After lunch Taylor Keen and Lisa Bosler led a deeply moving ceremony, with Annie Baker providing vocals, to remember our classmates who have died.
Saturday ended with our class photo at Dartmouth Hall and a magical dinner in front of Baker Tower. Sunday morning we shared a final breakfast. Brett Haber, currently a commentator and host for the Tennis Channel, was there with his two sons. They were heading off to enjoy a coastal New England vacation.
There are many more photos, memories and stories to share, and they’ll all be included in our upcoming class newsletter. If you haven’t already shared your favorite reunion moments, send them my way! Happy holidays, everyone!
—Deb Karazin Owens, 166 Colonial Drive, Fairfield, CT 06824; djowens@optonline.net
